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Black Swamp Bird Observatory

EIN 34-1702076 · Oak Harbor, OH

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair65 out of 100GovernanceGood81 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO INSPIRE THE APPRECIATION, ENJOYMENT AND CONSERVATION OF BIRDS AND THEIR HABITATS THROUGH RESEARCH, EDUCATION, AND OUTREACH.

Income
$866,928
Spending
$818,191
Spent on programs
72%
Reserves
-5.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 60%
Employees
8
Volunteers
275
Highest pay
$95,831, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 65 out of 100. Higher than 26% of charities in its peer group (animals, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 6% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 19% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    72% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 16 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 81 out of 100. Higher than 76% of charities in its peer group (animals, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    12 of 12 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (3)
  1. $277,151 spent. EDUCATION: ANNUALLY BSBO'S EDUCATION AND OUTREACH PROGRAMS INTERACT DIRECTLY WITH MORE THAN 25,000 PEOPLE. THESE PROGRAMS HAVE RECEIVED NATIONAL ACCOLADES. WE FOCUS ON YOUTH EDUCATION THROUGH WETLAND INVESTIGATION NETWORK (WIN) PROGRAM, WHICH OFFERS STUDENTS GRADES K-12 A DAY-LONG EXPLORATION OF THE LOCAL MARSH ECOSYSTEM. THROUGH OUR OHIO YOUNG BIRDERS CLUB FOR AGES 12-18 WE ENCOURAGE, EDUCATE, AND EMPOWER FUTURE CONSERVATION LEADERS. THE CLUB IS USED AS A MODEL PROGRAM FOR MANY OTHER YOUTH BIRDING CLUBS ACROSS THE US. BSBO BUSINESS ALLIANCE HELPS BUILD STRONG SUPPORT FOR CONSERVATION OF NATURAL RESOURCES AND FOR FUTURE CONSERVATION-LAND ACQUISITION.
  2. $235,873 spent. RESEARCH: BSBO HAS CONDUCTED AVIAN RESEARCH SINCE 1992; INCLUDING STUDIES IN THE BREEDING AND MIGRATION ECOLOGY OF BIRDS THAT UTILIZE THE LOCAL, GLOBALLY IMPORTANT STOPOVER HABITAT, MONITORING POPULATIONS, MIGRATION ROUTES, AND FLIGHT ALTITUDES, ON PASSERINES, WATERFOWL, SHOREBIRDS, & RAPTORS. RESEARCHERS INVESTIGATE HABITATS SPANING FROM OAK OPENINGS IN WESTERN LUCAS COUNTY OHIO, NORTH INTO SOUTHERN MICHIGAN AND THE LAKE ERIE BASIN, AND EAST TO SHAKER LAKES IN CUYAHOGA COUNTY OHIO. ON AVERAGE, BSBO BANDS 12,000 BIRDS ANNUALLY, MORE THAN 700,000 IN TOTAL. BASED ON BIRDS PER NET HOURS FIGURES, BSBO'S NAVARRE MARSH BANDING STATION IS THE LARGEST OF ITS KIND IN THE UNITED STATES.
  3. $76,659 spent. CONSERVATION: HABITAT CONSERVATION AND RESTORATION IS PROMOTED IN NW OHIO AND OTHER AREAS OF THE WORLD WHERE THE BIRDS MIGRATE TO, FROM AND THROUGH, BY PROMOTING RESPONSIBLE WIND ENERGY, SPECIFICALLY WITHIN 3 TO 5 MILES OF THE LAKE ERIE SHORELINE, A GLOBALLY IMPORTANT STOPOVER HABITAT. THE BIGGEST WEEK IN AMERICAN BIRDING 10-DAY FESTIVAL ATTRACTED 90,000+ BIRDWATCHERS TO NW OHIO ANNUALLY, WHO SPENT AN ESTIMATED $40 MILLION IN THE AREA. BSBO'S WORK WITH LOCAL BUSINESSES, TOURISM DEPARTMENTS, CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE, AND COMMUNITY LEADERS ENSURES THIS EVENT BUILDS SUPPORT FOR MIGRATORY BIRD HABITAT CONSERVATION. DURING THE SPRING OF 2020 AND 2021, THIS EVENT WAS HELD VIRTUALLY DUE TO COVID-19 PRECAUTIONS AND RESTRICTIONS, YET STILL CONTINUING TO SUPPORT THE COMMUNITY AND THE ORGANIZATION'S MISSION.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since July 1992.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 21, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.